Monday 20th January

Mary had carried her count out on Loch Gruinart on Wednesday, with her tally as follows. 4 GND, 1 Cormorant, 9 Shag, 1 Heron, 2 Pintail, 222 Shelduck, 152 Wigeon, 11 Mallard, 9 R b Merganser, 12 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 96 Oystercatcher, 20 Ringed Plover, 885 Golden Plover, 460 Lapwing, 346 Sanderling, 465 Dunlin, 222 Barwits, 229 Curlew,71 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 69 Turnstone, 7 Blackwits, 1 Dabchick, 2 Common Gulls, 82 Herring Gulls and 3 GBB Gulls. Ardnave Loch had 10 Whoopers, 4 Mute Swans, 1 Lapwing, 4 Oystercatcher, 27 Teal, 14 Goldeneye and 7 Mallard. The floods at Gruinart held 10 Mute, 7 Whoopers, 2 Gadwall, 77 Teal, 148 Teal, 3 Pintail, 22 Shoveler, 4 R b Merganser, 5 Heron, 37 Lapwing, 1 B H Gull, 4 Herring Gulls and 5 Dabchicks. Thanks Mary, busy day for you!Yesterday I had a ringtail Hen Harrier fly directly over, low down, over the garden at Shepherd's cottage, can I call it a garfden bird along with the Corncrake??? On my way down to meet up with Bob yesterday morning, I had a Merlin at Rockside,and a Peregrine down at Foreland. Coming back home later on, there were around 15 - 20 Blackbirds in the bushes/ trees at Foreland.